Species encyclopedia

Longnose Hawkfish

Oxycirrhites typus

Biology

Hawkfish share the unusual feature of not having a gas bladder. The presence of that organ in most fish allows them to float in the water.

As a result, hawkfish tend to be bottom-dwellers, often seen to be perched motionlessly on branches of coral. They can also scale the coral thanks to the thick, unbranched rays of their pectoral fins.

The longnose hawkfish positions itself almost exclusively on orange-red sea fans among which it can easily hide.

It hunts by lying in wait for small fish and crustaceans.

Reproduction

The species is hermaphroditic: all are born female and later transform into males.

During the nuptial parade, the reproductive cells are released into the open water. This allows the male to fertilize several clutches.

Hawkfish owe their name to their hunting technique, which involves staying still on a coral promontory, similar to a watchtower, and surprising their prey with astonishing speed and precision.

Indo-Pacific area

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